It is often said that, conflict and crisis breed unity. In difficult times we all pull together to address the common problem. And the reverse may also be true, that peace and wealth breed hate and division, since many who are rich safe and comfortable, often have quite exaggerated and irrational fears, that their wealth and safety may be under threat, through what used to be called paranoia.

Yet, I also wonder, if there is not more to it than that. Because the safe and wealthy, can still be genuinely unhappy. So of course, naturally they look to find what is to blame for that unhappiness, and though it is most probable that they themselves, or even indeed the wealth, are the problem. Yet they are unlikely to see that, because to look inward and address your own failings, or to face up to the fact that what you have worked hard for, is not living up to its promise, is very hard. That sort of thinking requires great effort and honesty.

It is much easier to look outward and find a scapegoat to blame, however irrational that blame may be. So that it is not needful to address what makes your home unhappy, and change it, but rather to say that. "This would be a happy home, if it was not for those !" Be "those" people of a different ethnicity, who you meet at work or on the street, a different political persuasion who enter your home through the media, different religions, your employers, employees or whatever.

Is it any wonder then. That a government could preside over a period of economic growth, increasing social welfare, and decreasing crime. Yet still find that hate, blame culture, and ethnic conflict are increasing on the street and in the media ?